And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
Parallel translations
- WEB Then out of the smoke came locusts on the earth, and power was given to them, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
- BSB And out of the smoke, locusts descended on the earth, and they were given power like that of the scorpions of the earth.
- NKJV Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
- NASB Then out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth, and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
- NLT Then locusts came from the smoke and descended on the earth, and they were given power to sting like scorpions.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Locusts emerge from the smoke with scorpion-like power. They represent a demonic host given limited authority to afflict.
Overview
Locusts evoke the eighth Egyptian plague (Exodus 10) and Joel's invading army (Joel 1-2), but here they sting like scorpions rather than devour crops, marking them as supernatural tormentors. Their "power" is given, again underscoring that evil operates only by divine permission. The imagery portrays the inner torment that accompanies a world handed over to demonic influence. Believers, sealed by God, are kept from this judgment (v.4).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Rev 9:5And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.
- Joel 1:4That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten.
- Joel 2:25And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
- Deut 8:15Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint;
- Judg 7:12And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for multitude.
- Exod 10:4–15Else, if thou refuse to let my people go, behold, to morrow will I bring the locusts into thy coast:
- Rev 9:10–11And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.
- 1 Kgs 12:11And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
- Nah 3:15There shall the fire devour thee; the sword shall cut thee off, it shall eat thee up like the cankerworm: make thyself many as the cankerworm, make thyself many as the locusts.
- Nah 3:17Thy crowned are as the locusts, and thy captains as the great grasshoppers, which camp in the hedges in the cold day, but when the sun ariseth they flee away, and their place is not known where they are.
- Isa 33:4And your spoil shall be gathered like the gathering of the caterpiller: as the running to and fro of locusts shall he run upon them.
- Luke 10:19Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
- Ezek 2:6And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.
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Christ at the center
Revelation ends the story with the slain-yet-standing Lamb who is worthy, the Lion of Judah, the Alpha and Omega, the returning King who makes all things new and dwells with his people forever.
How Revelation 9:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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